Figure toy



Patented Get. 7, 1924.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH 00$TELILO. OF YORK, N. Y.

FIGURE TOY.

Application filed September T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JossrH Cos'rnLLo, a citizen of the United States. residing at New York city, in the county of New York. and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Figure Toys; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear and exact description of the invention. such as will enable others skilled in. the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates broadly to an improved figure toy, but has more specific reference to what may conveniently be termed a bouncing figure.

l aim to generally improve upon toys of the specific type above named by providing one of extreme simplicity and durability which is such a. construction as to afford considerable amusement to children.

More specifically speaking, it is a further aim to provide a. novel toy which embodies abouncing ball with a cover therefor which may be shaped and designed to simulate any desirable type of figure, for instance a doll, a cat, or the like.

It is one of the particular features of the invention to provide a figure which is constructed to simulate an animal having a tail, wherein the latter constitutes a handle to be grasped for striking the yieldable bottom of the figure against a surface to cause it to bounce.

Other objects and features of the invention will become apparent from the follow ing description.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification and in which like numerals are employed to designate the like parts throughout the same:

Figurev 1 is a front elevation of a figure toy constructed in accordance with this: invention.

Figure 2 is a side elevation thereof.

Figure 3 is a central vertical section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Figure 4 is a horizontal section taken on the line 44 of Fig. 2.

Figure 5 is a plan view of a blank sheet of material which forms the upper part of the cover used.

Figure 6 is a view similar to Fig. 4: showing slightly different embodiment of the invention.

Referring now to the drawings which show the preferred embodiment of the in- 1., 1923. Serial No. 660,628.

vention. it will be seen that the numeral 1 designates a bouncing ball which is preferably a hollow rubber ball, and the numeral 2 refers generally to a covering for this ball which. before stated is designed in any suitable way to represent or simulate a figure. Although this cover can be constructed in numerous ways to simulate different types of figures. I have shown it in the drawing constructed in a manner to simulate a cat. The covering may be of suitable fabric such as for instance, oilcloth. canvas, lightweight leather the same being preferably formed from a blank 3 forming the upper part of the cover and a disk-like piece at forming the bottom of the cover. The upper part 3 of the cover is so cut as to assume the shape shown when the adjacent edges thereof are stitched or otherwise secured together. After the edges are stitched. a substantially conical body with a slight depression at the center of its top is provided, the portions on opposite sides of the depression serving to represent the ears of the cat. On the front side of the cover, the facial features of the cat will be painted or otherwise formed, and if desired a ribbon or the like 5 may surround the part of the body to indicate the dividing line between the head and body of the animal. In practice, a. hell or other suitable noise-making device 6 will be secured to the ribbon 5 to add to the effectiveness of the toy.

So that the cover will maintain the shape shown, a suitable cotton filler 7 is placed therein as clearly seen in Fig. 3 and in order to prevent capsizing, a rubber ring 8 is arranged inside of the cover and is secured in any suitable manner to the rubber ball 1 at a point below the horizontal center thereof. This ring serves as a shoulder and prevents capsizing of the cat. To give the cat a more life-like appearance, it is provided with a suitably constructed tail 9 consisting of a tapered tube of suitable material filled with cotton or the like.

As clearly seen in Fig. 3, the lower portion of the rubber ball is in direct contact with the disk-like portion 4 of the cover and the lower part of the figure assumes a convex shape. The inside filling of the; cover serves to counterbalance the toy and normally the latter will set in an upright position on a table. In using the toy, the child will grasp the tail 9 which then serves as a handle and pound or strike the yielding bot tom of the toy on a hard surface, causing the former to bounce. Of course the invention need not be restricted to this particular manner of using the same, for it may be bodily dropped on the floor to cause such bouncing action.

Attention is here directed to the fact that the upper part of the aforesaid cover and the tail which is attached thereto may be made of two pieces of material as seen in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive, although the parts of the cover may be constructed from a single blank 10 as seen in Figure 5 which isprovided with duplicate extensions 11 which are stitched to provide an integral tail 12 such as. is seen in Figure 6. While on this figure attention is also directed to the fact that the base ring 3 may be provided with integral extensions 13 which will extend into tubular covering of the tail to provide a filler therefor.

I claim 1. A figure toy comprising a rubber ball, a ring surrounding the same at a pointbelow the center thereofisaid ring forming a shoulder a portion ofvvhich is adapted to rest on a support to prevent capsizing of the toy, a. cover for said ring and ball, said cover being shaped to simulate a living creature having a tail, said tail forming a handle for bouncing said toy, and means for distending said cover.

2. A figure toy comprising a rubber ball, a ring surrounding said ball at a point below the center thereof, said ring forming a shoulder, a portion of Whichis adapted to rest on a support toprevent capsizing of the toy, a flexible cover for said ring and ball, said cover being shaped to simulate a living creature having a tail, th portion of said cover extended from said ring across the bottom of said'ball providing a convex bottom for the toy, said bottom being yieldable and being adapted to be struck against the sup port for bouncing the toy, the aforesaid tail constituting a handle by means of which said bouncing operation is accomplished, and a quantity of material in the upper portion or" said cover and tail forming a filler for distending said cover and causing it to maintain a given shape.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto atfixed my signature.

JOSEPH COSTELLO. 

